Nebraskaland

MayNebraskaland

NEBRASKAland Magazine is dedicated to outstanding photography and informative writing with an engaging mix of articles and photos highlighting Nebraska’s outdoor activities, parklands, wildlife, history and people.

Issue link: http://mag.outdoornebraska.gov/i/823575

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66 NEBRASKAland • MAY 2017 T aking a walk down the quarter- mile long row of trap houses during the Cornhusker Junior/ Senior High School Trapshoot is something every Nebraskan should do at least once. It is a unique sensory experience. First is the noise – thousands of rounds of shotgun shells exploding and mixing together with the talking, clapping, and cheering of friends, family, teammates, and coaches. Then the smell of spent gunpowder mingling in the air with grilling burgers, funnel cakes, and barbecue. Finally, and most importantly, the wonderful feeling you get seeing thousands of young people safely and responsibly handling firearms while competing in trap shooting. This spring marks the 48th year for the Cornhusker Trapshoot, one of the nation's longest running and largest tournaments of its kind. From May 4-6 more than 2,500 high school and junior high competitors from Nebraska and across the nation will descend on the Nebraska Trap Shooting Association's home grounds near Doniphan, swellin g the town's population from 840 into the thousands. It is an event like no other. What brings these young shotgunners to Doniphan is American trap. In this event squads of five shooters position themselves on stations, called posts, 16 yards from an automated thrower located inside a trap house. At the shooters' command the thrower launches a 4¼-inch clay pigeon randomly somewhere within a 34-degree angle. According to the official rules book, the clay must fly about 50 yards, meaning it is moving at a brisk 42 mph. After shooting at five clays the squad rotates to the next post until a round of 25 is complete. High school competitors shoot three rounds of "sixteens" on Friday and then are moved farther back based upon their score. This "handicap" event on Saturday consists of 75 targets, for a final total of 150. Junior competitors shoot 100 targets from the 16-yard line on day one of the tournament. The Cornhusker Trapshoot began rather inconspicuously in 1970 as a friendly duel between Northeast Community College and Chadron State College. Organized by Dave Wells and Jim Carlisle, the event grew quickly, with a high school division added in 1972. Three years later the event expanded to two days with the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission now sponsoring the event and awarding the coveted Cornhusker Cup to the top overall high school shooter. In 1976, the event moved to its current location in Doniphan and by 1978 included not only a third day of competition but also a junior division for 6th-8th graders. Over the next several decades, attendance at the state tournament grew steadily but slowly. Then things began to change. New high school and 4-H teams began popping up around the state and rosters of existing teams grew. For example, as recently as 2010 there were only The Cornhusker Trapshoot celebrates its 48th year. By Joel W. Helmer, Trapshooting Coach The Shotgun State PHOTO BY DOUG CARROLL PHOTO BY BOB GRIER

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